Short Summary

Stringent security was in force at Le Bourget Airport in paris on Thursday (12 April) as the first consignment of a Chinese art collection arrived to be shown outside The People's Republic of China for the first time.

Description

Stringent security was in force at Le Bourget Airport in paris on Thursday (12 April) as the first consignment of a Chinese art collection arrived to be shown outside The People's Republic of China for the first time.

The remainder of the 378-piece collection -- insured for GBP20,000,000 (US $49,600,000) -- is due to arrive next week. The collection, which includes treasures rom the Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties, will go on show in Paris on 8 May.

Armed police surrounded the British Overseas Airways (BOAC) aircraft when it arrived from Peking. The lorry carrying the art treasures was given a strong police escort for the journey into the centre of Paris. The collection will be seen in London in September and, later, Austria, Sweden and Canada.

The first consignment to arrive in paris weighed more than four tons and included the world famous Han Dynasty "flying Horse" of Kansu.

SYNOPSIS: A chartered aircraft, carrying some of The People's Republic of China's most Valuable art treasures, arrived at Le Bourget Airport in Paris on Thursday. The cargo is part of a collection which has never before been seen outside The People's Republic of China.

The 378-piece collection is insured for GBP20,000,000 for its 18-month overseas tour. The remainder of the collection is due to arrive aboard a French aircraft next week. The collection, which includes treasures from the Ming, Han and Tang Dynasties, will go on show in Paris on 8 May.

Stringent security measures were in force at Le Bourget as the priceless treasures were unloaded at midnight. The consignment weighed four tons and included the famous Han Dynasty "Flying Horse" of Kansu. The collection will be show in London in September, and will then go on to tour Austria, Sweden and Canada.

The Chinese decision to allow the collection to go on tour is being regarded by experts as a major breakthrough in East-West cultural relations.